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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Southeast Watershed Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #382372
Research Project: Biologically-based Management Systems for Insect Pests and Pollinators in Agricultural Landscapes in the Southeastern Region

Location: Southeast Watershed Research

Title: Black cherry as a host plant for stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in agroecosystems in Georgia, USA

Author
item TILLMAN, PATRICIA - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item COTTRELL, TED - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item GRABARCYZK, ERIN - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/17/2021
Publication Date: 4/12/2022
Citation: Tillman, P.G., Cottrell, T.E., Grabarcyzk, E.E. 2022. Black cherry as a host plant for stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in agroecosystems in Georgia, USA. Florida Entomologist. 105(1):79-86. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.105.0112.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1653/024.105.0112

Interpretive Summary: Stink bugs are serious economic pests in many crops world-wide. Black cherry is a common tree in southeastern landscapes. In this 3-yr study, our main objective was to determine if stink bugs feed and develop on black cherry in woodland habitats adjacent to crops in Georgia. Black cherry tree limbs were visually examined for stink bug species and stages, and stink bug traps were used to capture these pests in trees. Green stink bugs, brown stink bugs, dusky stink bugs, and southern green stink bugs were captured in traps on black cherry each year of the study. Only green stink bugs (99.2%) and southern green stink bugs (0.8%) were found on black cherry while sampling tree limbs. Over both types of sampling methods, eggs, nymphs, and adults of the green stink bug were found on black cherry. Also, nymphs were as common as adults on trees. The presence of nymphs was an indication of suitable stink bug development on the trees. Even though nymphs and adults of the brown stink bug and dusky stink bug were captured in traps, the majority of individuals were adults. We conclude that black cherry is a significant developmental host plant as well as a source of food for green stink bugs. However, our results indicate that black cherry is serving more as a food source than a development one for the other three stink bug species. Nonetheless, black cherry is likely a source of stink bugs into nearby crops.

Technical Abstract: Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are polyphagous pests that disperse from woodland habitat into agricultural fields following the availability of food. Black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) is common in southeastern landscapes. In this 3-yr study, our main objective was to determine if black cherry acts as a reproductive host as well as source of food for stink bugs in woodland habitats adjacent to crops in Georgia. Black cherry trees were visually examined for stink bug species and stages. In addition, pheromone-baited traps were used to capture stink bugs. In 2016, we also compared the number of stink bugs captured in canopy traps versus ground-based traps. Chinavia hilaris (Say), Euschistus servus (Say), Euschistus tristigmus (Say), and Nezara viridula (L.) were detected on black cherry in traps each year of the study. The total number of stink bugs was significantly higher in ground traps (1.53 ± 0.07) compared to canopy traps (0.71 ± 0.07) in the 2016 test. Only C. hilaris (99.2%) and N. viridula (0.8%) were found on black cherry during visual sampling. Over both types of sampling methods, egg masses, most nymphal stages, and both sexes of adults of C. hilaris were detected in black cherry. Also, the nymph to adult ratio was 1:1 in traps and nymph biased in visual samples. Anastatus reduvii (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) (43.9%), Trissolcus edessae Fouts (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) (35.0%), and Ooencyrtus sp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) (21.2%) emerged from C. hilaris egg masses. The nymph to adult ratio for N. viridula was adult biased. Even though nymphs and adults of E. servus and E. tristigmus were captured in traps, the majority of individuals were adults. We conclude that black cherry is a significant reproductive host as well as a source of food for C. hilaris. However, our results indicate that black cherry is serving more as a food source than a reproductive host for the other three stink bug species.